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Man Posing As Detective Strikes In Rural Areas

ELDERLY members of the community are being asked to be extra cautious at the moment when strangers approach their door.

The plea comes from An Garda Siochana following a number of attempted monetary thefts in the local area.

A man in his fifties arrived at the front door of an elderly male at 11.15a.m. in Derrickabeg, Ferbane on Thursday last posing as a detective. The male, who showed a false form of identification, claimed he was in the area checking counterfeit money in a detective led operation.

When the elderly man handed over a sum of money, the 'detective' left the house and made off in the Athlone direction in a black saloon style car.

There have been a further three incidents reported to Gardai from the same day in question and another incident in Co. Roscommon, close to the Shannonbridge area, however, there was no monetary gain for the perpetrators in these incidents.

Gardai are warning these incidents are happening more frequently and have stressed to the public that under no circumstances will they be going door to door checking for counterfeit money.

A spokesperson for local Gardai stated 'if you're in doubt about anything, if someone calls to your house claiming to be a detective in this situation, feel free to call Birr Garda Station on (057) 91 69710 or 999 to be sure. We will not be calling house to house checking notes.'